Vince Gilligan Reveals He Knows How His Sci-Fi Series Might Finish... At the Moment.
The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that his new science-fiction series would become a breakout success. “God bless the fans,” he remarks. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
With the first season of the acclaimed program coming to an end—and a second season greenlit and underway—the writers' room opened up about the viewer reception and whether it will impact the narrative path of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Audience Reaction
It would be easy to get swayed by the widespread acclaim and audience predictions regarding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is striving to steer clear of all that.
“It's like being force fed something incredibly sweet and being in a state of bliss,” he explains. “It's the greatest thing, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's on purpose. I have never looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever intend to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a rabbit hole I know I would get lost in and then I'd be living in squalor from Home Depot and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
Regardless of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no escaping the immensely favorable response to the series. The most practical strategy is to accept it graciously and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not changed by audience chatter.”
“Better to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan concludes.
The Big Question: Does Vince Gilligan See the Ending of Pluribus?
So if Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by audience theories, does it imply they have mapped out how Pluribus will finally conclude? Essentially yes… in a way.
“We have some interesting ideas about the ultimate destination,” he states. “yet we stand ready to discard a solid concept for a more brilliant plan. That philosophy has guided us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we get a better idea and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Alternatively, if plans fall through, executive producer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to fall back on.
“I constantly suggest that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and we're in there,” Smith quips, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Of course, why not reference the iconic TV endings?
“I want Carol to wake up in bed with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV+.
